What to expect in weather for the first week of deer bow season

View full sizeA significant storm system will be located west of Michigan on Saturday. This storm will bring rain and storms, then cooler temperatures by Sunday.Mark Torregrossa

The start of bow season will be very warm. But some interesting weather changes will be coming this week. If you know the changes, you may have some advantage in your hunt.

A large storm will come at Michigan in several pieces from Thursday into Sunday. The first graphic shows you the large storm to our west on Saturday. It is this storm that will keep Michigan in southerly winds and warm temperatures until the storm passes through Michigan. So don't expect a cool-down until the cold front with this storm moves east of Michigan. I expect that to happen on Sunday.

View full sizeWednesday will be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures near 80 degrees in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula.NOAA

We will start our bow season with temperatures that most hunters dislike - warm and summery. Today through Friday will have afternoon temperatures topping out in the 70s. Wednesday looks to be the warmest day, with the southern half of Lower Michigan heading toward 80 degrees. Even northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula will have temperatures well above normal. With this warmth, wind direction will be fairly consistent from the south-southwest.

The storm could make deer move

It seems as though the deer like to move before a large storm moves through. It makes sense. If you lived outdoors, you would try to eat as much food before the weather got nasty. So Thursday through Saturday may be a time period when deer are on the move.That same storm that makes deer move could make a dangerous situation in the woods. If you are going to be out in the woods deer hunting Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, watch out for thunderstorms. Lightning is dangerous, and you should get back to your vehicle before lightning moves in.

View full sizeSunday will finally have cooler temperatures. Temperatures will only hit 60 degrees in southern Michigan, and in the 50s in northern Michigan.NOAA

Sunday finally cooler

The cold front will be east of Michigan by Sunday, and winds will change to blowing from the west. It will finally be cooler, but not chilly. Morning temperatures will start in the 40s, and top out in the afternoon in the 50s to near 60 degrees. But the Sunday cool-down is not a long lasting trend. It looks like we may be back in the low 70s by Tuesday of next week.

In fact, all of next week looks like it will be also warmer than normal.

So bow hunters, I don't think there is a "perfect" day to go hunting in the next 10 days. You just better pick a day and get out there. If you want my advice on only one day, it would be Sunday.